Mogadishu is back to what it knows best-talking about talks as the year comes to an end, without any sign that the country is about to agree on the electoral roadmap.
From today, Saturday, November 14, and for the next four days, the government on one side and the opposition on the other side will be engaged in talks aimed at agreeing on an election date, adopting an electoral process to be used and addressing the constitutional issues facing Somalia.
Tomorrow’s sitting was called by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who invited opposition leaders and civil society to a broad-based dialogue to resolve the issues facing the country.
It was the umpteenth time for Mohamud to call for talks between his government, the opposition and federal member states as the country literally hurtles towards a political abyss.
A few weeks ago, Mohamud caused a stir when, through the country’s electoral body unilaterally announced April and May next year as the months when Somalis will go to elections to pick their Members of Parliament and president, respectively.
The announcement was met with protests and dismissal from his opponents through the opposition group, Somali Future Council (SFC) and two federal member states, namely Puntland and Jubba Land. They asked the president to engage in dialogue instead of issuing orders from Villa Somalia.
